Electrical connector



Jan. 12, 1943. K. G. STRUNK 2,307,972

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l WWW 7 INV ENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1943- K. G. STRUNK 2,307,972

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 22, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. KEN/TH G. STM/,wr

{3y/(mm Kum I ATTORNEYS v Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,307,972 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Kenith G. Strunk, East Orange, N. assignor to Breeze Corporations, Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 22, 1941, Serial No. 424,027

ends, in which each pair may vary in amperage from the others.

A further object is to provide `a connector which will continue and complete the radio shielding between two sections of cable which the connector joins.

A further feature is in the provision of a connector, capable of rapidly joining or disjoining an electrical cable in an easy and eflicient manner, by manual operation only, no tools being required.

Another object is to produce a compact, light weight, junction box composed of two main, manually separable parts, each containing portions of the elements required.

These and other advantageous aims are accomplished by the novel and practical construction, combination and arrangement of the few and simple parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, constituting a graphical component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a complete embodiment o f the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one of the separable elements. Y I

Figure 3 is a similar view of the coacting element.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Figure 9.

Figure 6 is afront elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 5.

Figure 'l is an end view of the parts shown in Figure.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 1,0.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Figure 5.

Figure l0 is a similar-sectionalview taken on 4 line Iii-I0 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 1s a iongitudinai sectional view showing the form of socket used in the device.

Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view taken on line |2 |2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a side view of a modified form of plug engageable in the socket. Y

s claims. (C1. 173-328) Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view taken on line |4 |4 of Figure 13.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 designates a metal sleeve having a rectangular base flange 2|, and is provided with an internal screw thread 22l in its end opposite the ange.

Passing through openings in the corners of the flange, are screws 23 by which the device may be secured in location; the screws also pass through similar flanges 24, formed in a relatively thin, sheet metal housing 25, which is firmly connected to the ilange 2| by nuts 26 adjustable on the screws 23. The outer inturned flange element 21 of the housing contains a circular opening 28, and in the cylindrical wall of the housing are formed, at equally-spaced intervals, three in' reaching nodes 23.

A molded base block 30 is disposed in the housing, the block being substantially a disc of insulative material, having in its periphery a series of notches 3| interchangeably engageable with the nodes 29. This base block is further provided with an annular, corner recess 32 to engage the corresponding inner corner of the sleeve 2U, and is held firmly in adjusted position thereto by the block 31|;l a non-conductive washer 33 is held against the block 30 by reason of the inturned ange 21 of the housing 25. i

The base block 30 has formed in its face, opposite the shoulder recess'32, two or more pairs of recesses 34 34 of hexagonal cross section, adapted to loosely receive the large collar portions 35 35 of connector plugs 36-36 which are held inthe recesses by the washer 33.

The plugs 36 3B', which are integral with the collars, extend through the block into the chamber within the sleeve 20; these plugs may be of different diameters in order toaccornmodate currents of different amperage. Extending opposite to the plugs are hollow terminal stems 3'i 3'| adapted to receive the entering end of cables and are cut away, as at 38 38', in order to facilitate soldering the ends of the cables therein.

In the modification shown in Figures 13 and 14, the plugs are formed with collars 33 and 4U, having bevelled shoulders, respectively front and rear, while therebetween are reduced connecting elements 4|, coarsely knurled longitudinally to have molded upon them a base block 30', similar to that before described.

The cut-away portion 38 extends from the end towards the enlarged portion to substantially half the diameter of the stem.

The opposite, main element, shown best in Fig- Y ures 2, 5 and 6, 'comprises a metallic sleeve I5,

provided with external threads iB midway its lengthadapted to eng-age the threads 22 of the mating element. This sleeve has its inner end 41 enlarged and provided with a knurled surface by which it may be conveniently adiusted by hand.

Inside the sleeve 45 is a sheet metal lining I8 having an annular outturned flange 49 at its outer end, while its opposite inner end is expanded in diameter and extended in length forming a thimble 50, held by screws 5| to an' outersleeve 52 provided midway in its length with screw threads 53'.

This sleeve contains an -insulating bushing 54 having an outstanding flange 55, abutting the irrner, larger end of the outer sleeve 52.

Adjacent the flange 55 is an insulating washer 56, having peripheral notches held from rotation by inreaching nodes formed with the lining 50.

Juxtaposed against the washer 56 is a circular dielectric block 51 having an enlarged collar 58 contacting the washer, and recessed at intervals in its periphery to engage the nodes59 of the lining 48, in which it is snugly surrounded. s

In the block 51 are pairs of bores Gli-5N, counter-bored as at 6|-6I in their ends adjacent the washer 56, while thewasher 56 is similarly bored in alignmentwithL the openings Gli-60'.

Disposed in these openings are sockets, shown 30 housing xed in the last named sleeve and having in detail in Figures 11 and '12, which consist of a conductive tube 62, its inner end 63 enlarged to fit the counter-bores 6|-Bi', and closed at their opposite outer end 64, also enlarged to t the bore and provided with bored extension 65 cut away upon one side, as at 5S, similar to the stems 31. to receive cable terminals, which are sldered therein.

The thin walled main central section of the socket 62 has a longitudinal bore 61, enlarged at its outer open end, as at 88; the entire tube, be-

' tween its enlarged ends is provided with a plurality of slots 69, preferably arranged obliquely or tangentially to the axis of the socket. The

bore 61 of the socket is slightlv less in diameter than the diameter of the plug 3B which, however. freely' enters the portion 68 of the socket and then comes in irictional, resilient contact with the main bore,'which, as will be seen, is in the form of longitudinal s'trips of metal which cooperate in providing a maximum contact area between the plug and socket.

A small hole posses tangentially through the d knurled sleeve 41 by which a wire 1| may 'be passed to impinge upon the periphery of the lining thimble 5|! preventing relative rotary movej ment. l

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that the plugs are readily removable, making the placement easy and are sc arranged as to prevent the heat of soldering from damaging the insulating material.

The Vblock 51 and washer 56. containing the sockets mav be rotated within the sleeve 45 in an angle elbow to` provide an angular take-oil for the cable as indicated in Figure l.

When 'a right angular adapter is employed, the two holes in the base housing dange 2l permit four positions of take-ott for the cable, and by one to another of its four detent'positions, atA

least twelve take-oi! directions are pomble.

Having thus fully described the invention, and set forth the manner of its construction and ap- 5 plication, together with its manifest advantages,

what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. An electric connector comprising a pair of sleeves threadedly connecteda flange on one ofr 10 said sleeves having locating means adjustable into a plurality of difierent axial DOsitions, a. housing in the last named sleeve, a dielectric block rotatively adjustable in said housing, one or more pairs of conductor plugs extending through said V block, each having means for connection with the end of an electric conductor, a-dielectric block rotatively adjustable in the first named sleeve, a lining intervening therebetween, pairs of conductive sockets set in the last named block in regis- '20 ter with said plugs, each socket having means for connection with the opposite end of an electric .f conductor, means to prevent short circuiting concluctors connecting with said sockets, and means to retain said lining and block in adjusted posi- .tion therein, relative to its enclosing sleeve.

2. A n electric connector comprising a pair of sleeves threadedly connected, a flange on one of said sleeves having locating means adjustable in-v to a plurality of diierent axial positions, a

a plurality of inreaching nodes, a dielectric block in said housing, said block having peripheral recesses to receive said nodes in selectively adjustable positions, solid conductive plugs arranged in pairs in said block, a' lining in the other oi said sleeves. said lining provided with inreaching nodes, a dielectric block in said lining having peripheral recesses adjustably engageable with said nodes, an extension on said second sleeve beyond said block having an insulating bushing therein, tubular sockets in said second block receptive of said plugs, the wall of said sockets being truly cylindrical and latticed to elasticalllv bind on entered plugs, and semicircular hollow outer ends on said plugs and sockets adapted to facilitate securing` cable terminals therein,

3. In an electric connector, the combination with a pair of easing sleeves having means for connection and a dielectric block rotatively ad- .instable in each sleeve, one or more solid cylindrical conductor plugs loosely Yengaged in one of said blocks directed towards the other block and having oppositely disposed hollow stems in which to secure the terminals of electric conductors,

hollow thin walled straight tubular conductor sockets set in the mating block in register with said plugs, said sockets having an internal diameter slightly lessV than the diameter of the plugs,

the ends of said sockets being increased in diameterover the main tubular portion therebetween,

sockets opposed to the tubular portions in which to secure the opposed ends of entering cables.

4. In an electric connector, the combination with a parrot casing sleeves having means for Y --axial engagement and a dielectric block rotatively adjustable in each sleeve, one or more solid lcylindrical conductor plugs loosely engaged -in one of said blocks, a dielectricwasher to retain said plugs in the block,\condctor sockets set in the other of said blocks in register with said plugs,

shifting the position ci the^molded block 51 from 75 said sockets having end portions to iit openings in said second block and`thin walled connections therebetween, the bore ot said sockets beingfof lesser diameter than that of the plugs, said bore enlarged atthe entrance end, said connections being formed to present a plurality of longitudinal slots thereby to produce resilient strips to tightly embrace a plug entered therein, and means on the outer ends oi.' said plugs and sockets `to facilitate secure entered cables therein.

gitudinally incised tangentially of its bore to present resilient striations to bind on an entered plus. e

6. In an electrical connector, a plug having a cylindrical main enterable portion and a diametrical enlargement opposite thereto containing a conductor receiving axial bore, said enlargement being open on one side to half its diameter throughout the greater portion oi' its length, means vintermediate said main portion and enlargement to retain the plug immobile when assembled, a socket having rigid end portions, a thin walled cylinder intervening of slightly lesser internal diameter than the plug, the bore of said v cylinder being of increased diameter at its entrance end, a plurality of narrow slots in the wall of said cylinder disposed longitudinally thereof and tangential to the bore, and a conductor receiving member` on said socket corresponding to that of said plug. 1

. KENITH G. STRUNK. 

